John m



futer *tetes latent @fitte JOHN' M. CRAWFORD, oF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYDVANIA.

i Leim-8 Patent No. saam, .zatte July L, 1867.

l IMPROVED BRIDE-Brr.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

' Be it known that I, JOHN M. CRAWFORD, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia,I and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Riding and Driving Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exaet'dcseription thereof, reference being had to the acompanying drawing, forming apart of this specification.

Figure I is a perspective view of my invention. Figure 2 is a vertical section through the bit and cheek-pieces.

The nature and operation of my invention will fully appeal' from the following description. A is the bit or piece which enters the horses mouth. B B are cheek-pieces, fastened loosely to the ends ofthe bit A by means of screws C C. These check-pieces are provided with slots a, so as to have a sliding movement upon the screws C. H are rings, passing through the lower ends of the cheek-pieces, to which the drivingd'eins D are attached in the usual manner. The upper ends ofthe cheek-pieces are provided with rings b, to which the cheek-strap F is attached. G G are rings passing through the ends ofA the bit A. To

these rings are attached the bearing or eheck-rein E. Y v i,

In operating my invention, the bridle is placed upon the 'horses head inI the usual manner, and the bit in his mouththe bit resting upon the screws at the bottom of the slots in the cheek-pieces, as shown in fig. 1. When the horse becomes restive or uninanageable, or grasps the bitbetween his teeth, it is only necessary to pull strongly upon the driving-rein D, which will cause the bit A to be forced upward in the slots in the cheekpieces, thereby forcing the bit'upwa-rd in the horse's mouth, and disengaging it from the grasp of his teeth.

' When in this position, the cheek-pieces become nearly horizontalinstead of vertical. It it be desirable to have the bit so arranged as to require a stronger force to cause the bit A to rise in the slot, all that will be necessary will be to change the relative positions of the tworeheek-pieces B and B, by taking out the screws. When it is desirable to use the bit as an ordinary bit, I remove the cheek-pieces altogether and aflix the cheek-straps F, as weil as the driving-rein D, tothe rings H.V My improved bit may be used for riding, driving, and hitting bridles. The slots a, in the cheek-pieces, may be made straight: instead of curved, asgsho'wn in the drawing. When the horse has the habit of bearing hard upon the cheek-rein, it can be removed from rings G, and fastened to rings H. This arrangement is suitable for hitting horses. When desirable, the driving-rein D can be fastened to the rings G G. v

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. The slotted cheek-pieces B B', either curved or straight, when attached to a bridle-bit, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. Making the cheelepieces capable of being reversed, by acting in combination with bit A and screw C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination and operation of the bit A, screws C, and cheek-pieces B, with the cheek-strap F, and reins D and E, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. i'

In testimony that I claim the above-described invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 21st day of February,1867. Y Y

JOHN M. CRAWFORD.

Witnesses ANDREW J. BoswnLl., BENJAMIN Srorrnn. 

